A June to Remember: Revisiting a month of history

June 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

The Black Lives Matter movement dominated our news coverage over the past month, as thousands of people gathered for protests and rallies in Harrisburg demanding justice and civil rights.

Online, we featured numerous stories, editorials and photo galleries dedicated to the many events that took place. We now want to share snippets of our web-only work for our magazine readers.

Why We’re Here

Unity. Peace. Justice.

Those words were heard over and over during Sunday’s rally at the PA Capitol, the latest in a weeklong series of protests following the death of George Floyd and demands for equal rights and fair justice.

Several hundred protestors gathered at the state Capitol and marched along downtown Harrisburg streets and over to City Island before returning to the Capitol steps to rally again.

Along the way, the diverse crowd held signs decrying police violence and engaged in chants such as “Say His Name: George Floyd” and “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot.”

“This march is one of solidarity,” said community activist Kevin Maxson, speaking to the crowd. “We demand change. That’s why we’re all here today.”

—Lawrance Binda

Juneteenth Plan

It was just last year that Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill officially recognizing June 19 as a state holiday celebrating freedom from slavery, known as Juneteenth.

In the wake of the death of George Floyd and other black men and women at the hands of police, Juneteenth takes on special meaning this year in the midst of protests and calls to action.

The Harrisburg Young Professionals of Color, La Cultura, Capital Rebirth and The Bridge are joining forces to host festivities in Harrisburg this Friday.

“It’s a celebration,” Mikell Simpson, founder of the nonprofit Capital Rebirth, said. “We have gained a lot of momentum. Now, let’s take a break for a day and celebrate.”

—Maddie Conley

African American Music Appreciation Month

If you live in central PA, you’ve probably heard of Shawan Rice and her band, Shawan and the Wonton. The singer-songwriter has brought her melodic voice and heartbreaking lyrics all across Pennsylvania and the east coast.

There is no other way to describe the 25-year-old’s voice but soulful. Her music, featuring traces of blues, R&B and folk laced together with her autobiographical lyrics, will probably wreck you but help you heal all over again.

“It’s soul music—music made for the soul,” she said. “You can feel it inside you.”

—Yaasmeen Piper

Editorial: “We Stand in Support”

We at TheBurg stand by the principals of this historic movement. We join this community in opposing racism and police brutality and in supporting equality, civil rights and black-owned businesses.

It is my greatest hope that this movement results in substantial and lasting change. I am amazed at what has already been accomplished in such a short time and look forward to seeing genuine progress towards greater equality and more opportunities in our community and our country.

—Lawrance Binda

Conversations

Every so often, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC hosts a seminar, but this one was different.

It was one that chamber board Vice Chair Meron Yemane has waited years for.

Today, the Chamber held a webinar entitled, “Chamber Live: A Conversation about Systemic Racism.”

Yemane explained how he believes this is the beginning of the process towards change for the chamber. He pointed out the power structures within the organization itself and the hope he has for positive movement towards inclusivity.

“Next year, I’ll be the first black chair of the chamber, and that doesn’t mean anything if there’s not a second,” Yemane said. “The chamber can lead in this.”

—Maddie Conley

Stories of the Past

The weather may have been gloomy, but the day was filled with celebration as the state recognized Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the freedom of enslaved African Americans.

As part of the day’s events, members of the IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade presented the City of Harrisburg with a bronze map replica of the historic Old 8th Ward.

The bronze map shows houses, churches, synagogues and other landmarks from the neighborhood that was demolished for the expansion of the Capitol grounds. The Old 8th Ward was primarily an African American and immigrant community that was displaced with the expansion.

“The future is judged by how well we preserve the true and just stories of the past,” said Lenwood Sloan, director of the project.

—Maddie Conley

Editorial: “This Remarkable Week”

A month or so ago, I told a colleague how disappointed I was with my generation—the Gen X/Baby Boomer crowd. When I was young, I attended many protests, thinking that our voices could lead to change. Looking back, however, I felt like we failed to make much progress toward a better, more equitable society.

But now this time has come like a bolt, a renewed era of activism and optimism, led by young people and people of color, but including a broad swath of society across cultures and generations—and now with, of all the unimaginable twists, assists from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Life remains unsettled. There are still plenty of questions, struggles and unknowns, especially as the global pandemic grinds on. But suddenly, the world seems so much more hopeful, so much brighter. For this incredible, history-making week, we can believe again in Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous quote: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”

—Lawrance Binda

Visit www.theburgnews.com to read the full stories from these excerpts.

July News Digest

June 30, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Harrisburg Adopts “8 Can’t Wait”

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse last month announced the city’s plan to evaluate and rewrite its police Use of Force General Order.

Inspired by former President Barack Obama calling upon mayors to review methods of policing, Harrisburg officials began to take a look at city policies, Papenfuse said. The city is using Campaign Zero’s “8 Can’t Wait” challenge as a framework.

“At the end of the conversation, there will definitely be a rewrite of the general order,” Papenfuse said.

The project looks at eight policies that local governments can adopt, claiming they may decrease police killings by as much as 72 percent.

The eight policy recommendations include:

banning chokeholds and strangleholds
requiring de-escalation
requiring warning before shooting
requiring exhaustion of all alternatives before shooting
a duty to intervene when excessive force is being used
banning shooting at moving vehicles
requiring a use-of-force continuum
requiring comprehensive reporting

Papenfuse explained that Harrisburg’s Use of Force General Order explicitly addresses seven of the eight orders. It lacks only a “duty to intervene” when officers use excessive force. He mentioned that it is taught in the police academy.

“We can definitely add number eight,” he said.

In addition to the city addressing the eighth policy, officials are also looking to expand on and enhance the other seven. For example, Papenfuse said they want to require more de-escalation and warning before excessive force is used.

“I want to hear from the public,” he said.

Papenfuse encouraged Harrisburg residents to email [email protected] with comments and questions.

July 4 Celebration Planned

Fourth of July celebrations may remind you of life as normal this year.

Harrisburg Independence Day festivities will be combined with Saturday Nights in the City for an evening of food, fireworks and more food.

Originally scheduled as a drive-through food truck event, Mayor Eric Papenfuse said the city decided to make it a traditional walk-up experience.

“We do think it’s appropriate given where we are to do a walk-up,” he said.

As usual, a multitude of food trucks will make an appearance, this time on City Island instead of Riverfront Park. Papenfuse said there will be fewer trucks than before, but still more than a dozen. While no vendors will be in Riverfront Park, people are free to picnic there.

With the added twist of including the city’s outdoor dining event, Saturday Nights in the City, people will have the option of sitting for table service from downtown restaurants.

“It’s been so successful,” Papenfuse said of the Saturday event. “We definitely wanted to include that and give people a chance to come downtown.”

As is tradition, fireworks will close out the night at about 9:15 p.m., set off from City Island.

Throughout the event, participants are encouraged to practice social distancing, Papenfuse said.

New Owner, Plan for Hudson Building

Originally, it was supposed to be a high-rise apartment building—with a huge convention hall, to boot. It was supposed to be 10 to 12 stories tall.

That never happened.

Instead, over the years, the cavernous Hudson building has been everything from a bank to a church to a series of small shops. And, for almost 20 years, it’s simply sat empty and falling apart.

Now, the building, at N. 6th and Maclay streets in Uptown Harrisburg, has a new owner and a new plan, one that includes something city residents have long said they wanted—a grocery store.

“Harrisburg is a food desert, so we plan to have a grocery component,” said new owner Adam Maust, who purchased the property through his company, Mighty Group Holdings LLC. “That’s one of the things that I’m most excited about.”

According to Dauphin County, Maust bought the 50,000-square-foot building and surrounding lots late last month for $425,000 from Philadelphia Suburban Development Corp., a King of Prussia-based commercial real estate development firm. That company bought it in 2004 and never redeveloped it.

The neglect is quite apparent, as the building has deteriorated significantly since that time.

Maust said that he’s putting together a plan for the complete rehabilitation of the structure, with architecture by Camp Hill-based By Design Consultants.

First off, the building needs to be gutted, as little of the damaged interior is salvageable. He wants demolition to begin in July.

He then plans to ask the Camp Curtin community what it would like to see in the space. He wants to hold community meetings to get the feedback and buy-in of people who live in the neighborhood.

He’s pretty sure that the area needs a grocery store, so that’s high on his agenda. He also plans to move his own Harrisburg-based marketing company, A Mighty Group, into a small portion. He thinks that a brewery and art studios could be good fits, maybe a restaurant or a coffee shop.

The property includes a parking lot and several empty lots, which he wants to turn into community green space.

“I’m open to any idea,” he said. “It’s really talking to the community to see what makes sense.”

Maust said that he wanted to purchase the building for several reasons. First of all, he’s from the area and, he said, loves Harrisburg, so wanted to make a contribution. Secondly, he thinks that the 6th Street corridor is ripe for redevelopment with such projects as the new federal courthouse and the planned state archives up the street.

“I saw this as an exciting opportunity to change Harrisburg for the better,” he said. “I hope this will be an anchor that we can build on.”

He also likes the proximity to the state Farm Show Complex, which is just across the Maclay Street Bridge. He said that he easily could see the building serving as an adjunct for large events there, with event and meeting space.

Since the building is so large, there are many possible uses, he said. And, if his project is successful, he might even consider building up, since the stone and steel bottom floors were built to support a 12-story structure.

“This building is an anchor for the entire corridor,” he said. “It will be one of the very best buildings in Harrisburg.”

Women’s Shelter Breaks Ground

Bethesda Mission last month broke ground on a new women’s shelter to replace its two deteriorating existing buildings.

First, the transitional living building on Forster Street will be demolished and rebuilt, followed by the main building, situated in a 120-year-old former school building.

Once completed, the half-acre site will hold a new, four-story building with 51 beds, the new transitional living building and outdoor garden and park space.

“The shelter has given women who have been in crisis a whole new opportunity for a different life,” said Scott Dunwoody, Bethesda Mission’s executive director.

Within the past two years, Bethesda has raised over 85% of the $4.2 million price tag on the project through grants and private donors. They are now looking for community donations to meet their goal.

Contractor Pyramid Construction is expected to complete the project by the fall of 2021.

The shelter offers long-term and transitional living for women in crisis to seek restoration and personal growth. Many have faced abuse and addiction. The buildings have 25 beds for women and their children.

Shelter Director Shelley Brooks explained that the growing need in the Harrisburg area for young women’s support was a motivating factor in the expansion.

“It’s time to spread out a little because the need is great,” she said.

Home Sales Down, Prices Up

The residential real estate market showed mix results in May amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania, according to housing industry data.

The Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR) reported last month that, for May, sales fell by about half in the region, but the median price increased by 6.8 percent year-over-year to $205,000.

In Dauphin County, 173 houses sold compared to 355 in the year-ago period, while the median sales price rose to $176,300 from $172,000. In Cumberland County, sales totaled 152 units versus 326 in May 2019, while the median price increased to $233,950 compared to $215,000 a year ago.

Perry County had 21 sales for a median price of $157,000 versus 39 home sales for $150,900 in May 2019.

Average days on the market for listings were virtually unchanged—52 days versus 51 in the prior May.

So Noted

COVID-19 Community Response Fund has awarded more than $127,000 in grants to 54 nonprofits around central Pennsylvania. The Foundation for Enhancing Communities and the United Way of the Capital Region combined forces in March to quickly raise and distribute funds to assist our region’s hard-hit nonprofit sector.

GK Visual last month debuted its latest project, “Poured in PA: The Series,” featuring individual episodes focused on Pennsylvania’s craft beer industry. The series, which can be streamed from YouTube, follows their two full-length documentaries on the industry.

Harrisburg Bike Share has ceased operations, closing down its three-year bicycle-sharing program. Boston-based operator Zagster shuttered all of its 200-plus sites nationwide, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason.

Harrisburg City Council last month vowed to make reforms to help prevent possible police misconduct. Council member Ausha Green, chair of council’s public safety committee, said council would examine police use-of-force policies, in addition to other possible initiatives.

Harrisburg School District Receiver Janet Samuels last month approved a 2020-21 budget that does not raise taxes. The coronavirus pandemic had blasted a hole in the $158 million spending plan, but the budget gap was closed with federal CARES Act funding.

Harrisburg University’s HU Storm Overwatch team last month won the Operating System NYC Collegiate Championship. The e-sports team won four straight matches to defeat the University of California, Irvine, for the title.

Roger That Photography last month presented Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region with a check for $10,327 from funds raised from its

#TheFrontStepsProject. Owner Roger Baumgarten took free, socially distanced, on-the-porch family portraits, with all profits from the online sales of downloads, prints and photo gifts earmarked for the Salvation Army.

Changing Hands

Bellevue Rd., 2315: A. & V. Morelli to G. Ferkel, $250,000

Benton St., 607: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to R. Wilder, $125,000

Boas St., 114: D. Walker to P. Kavanaugh, $157,500

Briggs St., 215: P. Meehan to CR Property Group LLC, $108,000

Brookwood St., 2178 & 2178 Getty’s Alley: K. & S. Ribble to W. Macon, $37,000

Calder St., 116: D. Goldman to Z. Fisher & C. Cline, $155,000

Conoy St., 100: M. & J. Barton to S. & N. Dienner, $110,000

Conoy St., 110: H. Peyrot to L. Overby, $157,900

Croyden Rd., 2826: J. & A. Myers to J. McErlean, $45,000

Curtin St., 613: O. Ramos to F. Ruiz & C. Zapata, $44,000

Derry St., 2815: J. Elias Holdings LLC to S. Ambra, $64,900

Ellersie St., 2334: C. Woods to K. & B. Staton, $76,000

Forster St., 1926: CR Property Group LLC to S. & J. Hirota, $105,000

Grand St., 933: T. Heck to E. Thomas, $114,000

Green St., 2146: Coverex LLC to J. & S. Compton, $35,000

Hamilton St., 334: PA Deals LLC to D. Monzon, $119,900

Herr St., 1506: Seneca Leandro View LLC to V. Cobbs, $76,000

Hudson St., 1216: R. Mesariac to E. & V. Glover, $111,000

Kensington St., 2033: CR Property Group LLC to J. Curtis, $101,000

Lewis St., 210: Smith Della Porta Investments LLC to C. Jury, $120,000

Lexington St., 2562: I. Druker to M. Jones Jr., $80,000

Lexington St., 2716: P. Edrington to CR Property Group LLC, $37,000

Logan St., 2035: G. Vargas to CR Property Group LLC, $35,000

Logan St., 2235: B. & K. Saltzgiver to CR Property Group LLC, $37,500

Market St., 829 & 1001: Equity Trust Co. FBO Robert Clay IRA to Camcorr LLC Property Management Inc., $785,000

Meadowlark Pl., 174: L. Nguyen to E. Pinero, $80,000

Muench St., 200: Penn Home LLC to M. Temba & C. & J. Liu, $85,500

Muench St., 205: J. Secrest to S. Vielot, $135,000

N. 2nd St., 1715: 1715 N. 2nd Street LLC to A. & T. Stienstra, $175,000

N. 2nd St., 2341: G. & K. Speaks to M. Omari to T. Ebengela, $124,900

N. 2nd St., 3011: Central Pennsylvania Home Buyers LLC to K. Boggan & G. Rine, $240,000

N. 4th St., 1320: PA Deals LLC to D. Isern, $114,900

N. 5th St., 2507: W. Whitehead to CR Property Group LLC, $50,500

N. 5th St., 2200: Harrisburg Home Investment LLC to J. & J. Fessenden, $89,900

N. 6th St., 2101, 606 Maclay St., 608 Maclay St., 612 Maclay St., 620 Maclay St., 2120 Jefferson St. & 2119 Elizabeth Alley: Philadelphia Suburban to Mighty Group Holdings LLC, $425,000

N. 13th St., 23: P. Miller & Habitat for Humanity to NA Capital Group LLC, $37,000

N. 14th St., 1116: Gator Management Group LLC to 37 Estate LLC, $35,000

N. Front St., 901: J. & V. Wozniak to Equity Building LLC, $355,000

Norwood St., 909: J. Lindberg to Q. Wilson, $31,000

Norwood St., 943: M. Nguyen to X. Mangual, $71,400

Peffer St., 211: K. Scheib to J. DeMarco, $118,000

Penn St., 1916: D. Ohagan to A. Sosa, $176,300

Penn St., 2126: Coverex LLC to J. & S. Compton, $50,000

Penwood Rd., 3214: CNC Realty Group to R. & S. Holloman, $105,000

Pine St., 123, 125 & 127: B. & G. Dechowitz to N&R Group LLC, $475,000

Reel St., 2416 & 2418: American Rental Home LLC to CR Property Group LLC, $52,000

Regina St. 1606: D. Boyle to Y. Tejada, $30,000

Rudy Rd., 1909: PA Deals to H. Shbeeb, $73,900

S. 24th St., 625: J. Clancy to A. Ward, $77,000

S. Front St., 711: S. & D. Moffett to H. Peyrot, $192,000

State St., 1412: A. Sharp to S. Lee & M. Prokopy, $145,000

State St., 1715: D., J. & M. Sollenberger to D. & L. David, $93,000

Sycamore St., 1821: C. Williams to S. Glass, $120,000

Verbeke St., 1727: C. & J. Arp to S. & A. Dougherty, $79,000

Harrisburg property sales for May 2020, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

June 26, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Forster Street may be in for substantial improvements if a grant application approved by City Council is accepted.

This week may not have been quite as jam-packed as last, but there was still plenty of news, including several proposals meant to improve life in Harrisburg. Now’s a great time to catch up on the latest stories you may have missed from this past week.

Capital Region Water is delaying stormwater fees for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic. We shared, in our online story, that the payment will begin on Oct. 1, rather than July 1.

Citizen’s advisory board was proposed by City Council on Tuesday to improve relations between the Police Bureau and residents. In our online story, we outline the power that committee members would have and how they will be chosen.

COVID-19 cases have plateaued for now in Pennsylvania, according to the latest data from the state Department of Health. In our weekly update, we show that cases haven’t fallen further, but they’re not generally rising either.

Deterring illegal firework usage is the goal of a new plan to open Harrisburg parks on July 3 as a place for residents to set fireworks off safely. Our story highlights the four parks that will be supervised by Fire Bureau officials from 7 to 10 p.m and the new mapping system that will pinpoint illegal-use hotspots.

Forster Street may be getting a facelift. City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday to submit a grant application for improvements to Forster Street. Our online story details that council hopes to get $832,437 to reduce the width of the street and improve safety between the Harvey Taylor Bridge and N. 2^nd Street.

Harrisburg school district Receiver Janet Samuels approved on Monday a budget of $158.2 million for the 2020-21 school year. Our online story explains how the district originally faced a $4.2 million deficit caused by the COVID-19 crisis, but received one-time CARES Act funding to fill the gap.

“Out in Central Pennsylvania” by William Burton details the history of the LGBTQ community in the region. We reported on Midtown Scholar’s virtual book talk in which Burton and co-author Barry Loveland discussed the story.

Sara Bozich is laying low this weekend, enjoying some good local food and chilling out. Don’t miss her list of things to do this weekend to get out of the house while still relaxing.

UPMC Pinnacle is launching “Healthy Harrisburg,” an educational course for those dealing with chronic illness. It aims to help residents of color and those lacking adequate access to healthcare in the city. Check out what they have planned and how you can register to participate.

Young Professionals of Color of Greater Harrisburg have almost reached their goal for their 2020-21 Adopt-a-Classroom fundraiser. They’re looking to raise $15,000 to support 30 Harrisburg school district classrooms. More information and ways to give are shown in our online story.

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Do you love TheBurg? If so, join Friends of TheBurg, our new membership group. Click here to find out more.

PA averaged about 500 new daily COVID-19 cases over past week, state says

June 26, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Charts of daily new cases and tests over time. Source: PA Department of Health

New COVID-19 cases in PA remained relatively stable this week, with the state reporting an average of just over 500 new diagnoses over the last seven days.

With today’s update, the state Department of Health has reported an average of 515 new cases per day since last Friday. For the past 24 hours, the department confirmed 600 new positive cases throughout Pennsylvania.

Cases peaked in early April at nearly 2,000 daily new cases. Since then, cases have shown a gradual decline, despite increasingly greater testing levels for the virus.

With the additional cases, 84,370 Pennsylvanians have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus, an increase of 3,608 over the past week.

Locally, total diagnosed cases are as follows:

Adams County: 324 cases (prior Friday, 309)
Cumberland County: 830 cases (prior Friday, 768)
Dauphin County: 1,917 cases (prior Friday, 1,725)
Franklin County: 902 cases (prior Friday, 872)
Lancaster County: 4,280 cases (prior Friday, 3,911)
Lebanon County: 1,300 cases (prior Friday, 1,226)
Perry County: 86 cases (prior Friday, 79)
York County: 1,428 cases (prior Friday, 1,229)

Overall, 11.7 percent of PA residents tested have shown to be positive for the virus.

The department also reported an additional 180 deaths since last Friday, meaning that 6,579 Pennsylvanians have died from the disease since March.

Around central PA, the COVID-19 fatality data now stands as follows:

Adams County: 12 deaths (prior Friday, 11)
Cumberland County: 63 deaths (prior Friday, 61)
Dauphin County: 132 deaths (prior Friday, 118)
Franklin County: 42 deaths (prior Friday, 42)
Lancaster County: 354 deaths (prior Friday, 344)
Lebanon County: 43 deaths (prior Friday, 40)
Perry County: 5 deaths (prior Friday, 5)
York County: 43 deaths (prior Friday, 35)

Statewide, Philadelphia County continues to have the most confirmed cases with 21,203 cases, followed by Montgomery County with 8,301 cases. The two counties also have reported the most deaths statewide from the disease: 1,587 and 794, respectively.

“As nearly the entire state is now in the green phase, we must remain committed to protecting against COVID-19,” health Secretary Rachel Levine said.

With the exception of Lebanon County, all of the Harrisburg area is now in the “green” phase of reopening, which means fewer restrictions on businesses and gatherings. Gov. Tom Wolf stated today that Lebanon County would enter the green phase on July 3.

Nursing homes and personal care facilities have been particularly hard hit by the virus. Of total deaths, 4,518, or 68.6 percent, have occurred in residents from nursing or personal care facilities, according to the health department.

In nursing and personal care homes, there are 17,527 resident cases of COVID-19, and 3,162 cases among employees, for a total of 20,689 at 678 distinct facilities in 51 counties, according to the health department.

In addition, about 6,395 of total cases in PA are in health care workers.

Statewide, 719,081 coronavirus tests have been performed, with 634,711 people testing negative, according to the state health department. A week ago, the state reported that 637,218 people had been tested for the virus.

Of the patients who have tested positive to date, the age breakdown is as follows, according to the health department:

Nearly 1 percent are aged 0-4
1 percent are aged 5-12
2 percent are aged 13-18
Nearly 7 percent are aged 19-24
Nearly 37 percent are aged 25-49
Nearly 25 percent are aged 50-64
Nearly 28 percent are aged 65 or older.

Most of the patients hospitalized are 65 or older, as are most of the reported deaths, according to the state.

Levine continued to emphasize that Pennsylvanians should do the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
Clean surfaces frequently.
Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

“Pennsylvania has been a model for the country on how to reopen effectively using a careful, measured approach,” Levine said. “However, the virus has not gone away. Each of us has a responsibility to continue to protect ourselves, our loved ones and others by wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and washing our hands frequently. Together we can protect our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians, our essential workers and our healthcare system.”

For more information, visit the PA Department of Health’s COVID-19 website.

Currently, we are providing a COVID-19 data update weekly, each Friday, or as breaking news warrants.

Burg Books: “Out in Central Pennsylvania” tells story of our area’s LGBTQ community

June 25, 2020 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Despite being born in Arizona, William Burton spent the majority of his life in big cities. As soon as he could, he moved to Houston, then Boston. These major cities, Burton called “safe havens” for some gay people.

“I realized I’ve been living in a bubble,” he said. “I lived in areas that had laws that protected me. I had gay neighborhoods. I had social networks right outside my door… I had an entirely different experience than people in central Pennsylvania.”

This drove Burton to explore the queer history of our area. Four years later, he released his book, “Out in Central Pennsylvania: The History of an LGBTQ Community.”

Burton, along with his co-author and head of the LGBT History Project, Barry Loveland, held their look launch on Wednesday night via Midtown Scholar’s virtual book talk series. In lieu of Pride Month, the bookstore collaborated with the LGBT Center of Central PA. The authors were joined by Frank Pizzoli, editor and publisher of the Central Voice, Central PA’s LGBTQ newspaper.

Burton discussed what prompted him to tell these stories, many of which were unknown to the general public.

“Most of the stories that have been written were about large urban areas,” he said. “You don’t think about non-urban areas, and that’s what this book’s about.”

The book discusses the formation of central PA’s gay community and some of the activists and organizers behind it. With the suggestion of their publisher, Penn State Press, the book is broken down chronologically.

The first chapter is about discovery and what it was like for people in this area to come out. There were stories about how people’s families and communities reacted to their queerness.

A section on early life documented what gay bars were like in this area and the police raids that plagued them prior to the Stonewall riots in New York City.

“I was blown away,” Burton said. “The stories of harassment, discrimination, how the networks formed, the people that did them…”

Most of the information came from oral stories collected by the LGBT History project, which started in 2012, as well as newspapers and newsletters. The stories were used to bring the book to life and create more of a personal touch.

“A lot of them are very emotional kinds of stories,” Loveland said. “It’s been amazing to collect these stories and tell these stories in this kind of approach.”

Aside from sharing queer history, the authors hope the book helps educate young people who are still in the midst of fighting for equality.

And they seem to be on the right path already. One audience member said that, as a young trans person living in a small town, the book inspired them in a way “bigger” heroes don’t.

“I hope I can do for the next generation what my queer predecessors did for me,” they said.

According to Burton, writing this book opened his eyes to many of the trials and tribulations the rural queer community has been through. He hopes that writing this will help others do the same.

“Hopefully, some of the young people that don’t know the history, that they’ll be inspired and say ‘Maybe I can make a difference too,’” he said.

You can purchase “Out in Central Pennsylvania” on the LGBT Center’s website. A portion of the proceeds goes towards funding the LGBT History Project.

UPMC launches “Healthy Harrisburg,” program designed to help residents manage chronic illness

June 25, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

UPMC Pinnacle in Harrisburg

Organizations across the country recently have been taking steps towards inclusivity and equity in their services.

UPMC Pinnacle has had this goal in mind for a while now.

The healthcare provider is launching “Healthy Harrisburg,” a program offering resources for people facing chronic illness who lack adequate access to healthcare.

“Data from our community health needs assessment shines light on where health disparities are in our community,” said Tina Nixon, vice president of Mission Effectiveness, Diversity & Inclusion at UPMC Pinnacle.

“Healthy Harrisburg” will begin as two, eight-week series of activities focused on fitness demonstrations, educational sessions, insurance enrollment and healthy living mentorship. The program starts on July 11 and will look for Harrisburg residents who are managing obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Adults 18 years or older can register.

Nixon hopes the initiative will especially help the uninsured and underinsured population, as well as communities of color.

“One of the things the COVID crisis did for us is put a spotlight on disparities in communities of color,” she said. “This helped move the initiative forward.”

UPMC Pinnacle will partner with faith-based organizations, fitness instructors, businesses and health experts to provide education for participants. They have also been deliberate about finding professionals of color to lead events, Nixon said.

Porcha Johnson, founder of Black Girl Health, a digital outreach organization, will host some events. Her organization’s mission parallels UPMC’s.

“We need to improve access, but we also need to improve education,” Johnson said. “I hope they get the motivation and knowledge they need to take action steps.”

The first day of the program will be virtual, but Nixon said UPMC will be monitoring the crisis to decide if events can be held outdoors.

Activities include Zumba, strength training, smoking cessation education and diabetes education, among others.

When the weeks of education and interaction are over, Pinnacle staff will follow up with participants to monitor their lifestyles and changes in health.

“I always look at it as meeting people where they are,” Nixon said.

After the first two series of “Healthy Harrisburg,” the initiative may expand across the seven UPMC hospitals.

“We are really trying to make Harrisburg a great place for everyone,” Nixon said.

For more information or to register for Healthy Harrisburg, visit https://www.pinnaclehealth.org/classes-and-events/join-the-healthy-harrisburg-initiative-2020/. To learn more about Black Girl Health, visit their website.

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

June 25, 2020 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend! I’m checking out a soon-to-open restaurant today and have a day of photo shoots (and fun) with my girls on Friday, but otherwise, plans are sparse. We’re still laying low AND like, we have a toddler, so … Hoping to visit a friend’s pool to cool off at some point and get some cheddar wurst on the grill with a fresh salad from my garden! Hiya, Are you on the email list? In addition to getting this weekly update directly in your inbox, I load it with a bunch of other fresh, original content. Sign-up here. I also recommend following me on IG.

Top Picks:

Paw Paw Vodka!? HOLLA Spirits has it!
NEW extended hours for Tattered Flag Distillery Lounge in Hershey!
Book your appointments at Bronzed Bunny now
Visit R.G. Hummer’s in the Broad Street Market for all your grilling needs
Need something pretty? Meeka Fine Jewelry is open!
MoMo BBQ Co. is OPEN for outdoor and indoor seating!
ABC Mechanicsburg is OPEN! Check Facebook for details!
ABC Harrisburg is OPEN! Check Fa c ebook for details!
All Tattered Flag locations are open! Check Facebook for details!
Enjoy outdoor and indoor beers at Boneshire Brew Works all weekend!
Check out Midtown Cinema’s full list of on-demand films!
Grab some local brews and binge-watch Poured in PA: The Series free on YouTube!
Midtown Scholar Bookstore now offering curbside pickup.
The Millworks is now open Tuesday-Sunday at 4 p.m.

Top picks to-go/delivery

Need wine? Click here.
Need booze? Click here.
Need beer? Click here.
Need cocktails? Kits + premade options here.
Brunch? For serious. Click here.
Wait, what about coffee, kombucha, tea, juice? Got you!
Find Carry-Out options here

Capital Region Water votes to delay stormwater fee until Oct. 1

June 25, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Capital Region Water fixes a water main earlier this year.

Capital Region Water will delay its new stormwater fee for three months, citing the coronavirus pandemic as the reason.

The CRW board voted on Wednesday night to begin to impose the fee on Oct. 1, instead of July 1, due to the “economic hardship” resulting from the virus.

“While the delay is intended to provide temporary relief to our customers, it does not diminish Capital Region Water’s commitment to improving local water quality, the associated regulatory responsibility, or the financial cost of system stewardship,” said CRW board Chair Marc Kurowski, in a statement.

CRW voted last year to begin charging its Harrisburg customers a separate stormwater fee on Jan. 1, a date later moved up to July 1 and now delayed until October.

Under the plan, most residential customers will be charged an additional $6.15 per month. That amount equates to $74 per year. The non-residential rate will fluctuate based on the amount of impervious surface on commercial properties.

Currently, the cost of stormwater service is included in the wastewater fee. CRW has said that customers should see a slower rise in the wastewater portion of their bill once stormwater service is separated out.

CRW plans to spend some $315 million over the next 20 years to slash the amount of wastewater that flows into Paxton Creek and the Susquehanna River during heavy rains. That plan relies heavily on building out green infrastructure to prevent stormwater from overwhelming the city’s antiquated combined stormwater/wastewater system.

“Millions of dollars of system repair and maintenance are necessary to address decades of deferred investment in both the combined and separate stormwater systems,” Kurowski said.

Harrisburg to open parks for pre-4th fireworks, begins tracking illegal use

June 24, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse gives a press conference on Wednesday.

Keep buying those fireworks, but be careful where you set them off.

The city is opening spaces for Harrisburg residents to light fireworks this year in hopes of curtailing illegal usage, Mayor Eric Papenfuse announced on Wednesday.

On July 3, from 7 to 10 p.m., four parks will be open, allowing safe firework fun with the supervision of Fire Bureau officials. Participants have the options of Sunshine Park, 7th & Radnor Playground, Reservoir Park by the basketball courts and the 14th Street Open Space Park.

“We have been having some issues with fireworks being set off at all hours of the night,” Papenfuse said. “It’s a quality of life issue. This is not just in Harrisburg, but throughout PA […] and across the country.”

According to Fire Chief Brian Enterline, there have been dangerous incidents when rules regarding fireworks have not been followed. He said there were three or four fires throughout the 4^th of July weekend last year.

The fire chief reminded people that it is illegal to set off fireworks within 150 feet of an occupied building. He added that, in order to participate in the firework event on the 3^rd, you must be 18 years or older, not under the influence of alcohol or drugs and fireworks must be consumer-grade.

All You Can Inc.’s Ralph Rodriguez suggested the event to the mayor in the hope that it will bring the community together and present a solution to Harrisburg’s illegal fireworks problem.

“I look forward to this initiative,” he said.

Harrisburg Young Professionals of Color also partnered with the city to come up with the idea for mapping illegal firework usage with geographic information system (GIS) technology.

Reports will allow the city to see where hotspots for firework activity are.

Residents can call the city’s communications team at 3-1-1 or 717-255-6571 to report illegal activity. Papenfuse encouraged contacting the city that way, rather than calling 9-1-1.

“We are hoping we can help our residents build community by setting off fireworks in a controlled location,” Enterline said.

For more information, visit Harrisburg’s website.

Young Professionals of Color in home stretch of funding 30 Harrisburg classroom projects

June 24, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

For four years, the Harrisburg Young Professionals of Color have raised funds for city classrooms. This year is their biggest one yet.

Typically, they host a gala fundraiser event, but with the COVID-19 crisis, that’s been off the table. Surprisingly, that hasn’t been a problem.

“This year, we’ve raised all the money for the classrooms and we haven’t even thought about the gala,” co-founder Kimeka Campbell said.

Each year, teachers in the Harrisburg School District come to the YPOC with special projects they would like funded. Campbell explained these aren’t typical pencils and paper fundraisers, but the money goes toward items like non-traditional seating, technology or clubs.

In the past, teachers used donated money for things like a garden club and gaming club.

The goal this year was to raise money for 20 classrooms, $500 going to each class. However, in less than a week from their start date in early June, they had already raised $11,000, enough for 22 classrooms. Since then, Campbell updated the goal to 30 classrooms or $15,000. Close to 300 people have donated through both Facebook and GoFundMe.

“It’s exploding and it’s crazy,” she said.

Campbell credited the public generosity to the recent events surrounding the death of George Floyd and several other black men and women at the hands of police officers.

“People are asking what they can do to help,” she said. “We appreciate how the Harrisburg community is stepping up.”

As of Wednesday morning, Campbell said they are $900 shy of their goal.

To learn more about the Harrisburg Young Professionals of Color, visit their website. For updates or to donate to the Adopt-a-Classroom fundraiser, visit their Facebook page.

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